Technology

The Thrill:  A Chameleon Car

A color changing car is always cool. And with an eccentric design thrown in, the appeal is further enhanced. The EVE concept may not sound like a car you would see anytime soon, but when it does see a market launch, rest assured you aren't going to get enough of it.  

Nissan is coming out with new ideas: The concept of "self-healing paint," which was supposedly scratch-resistant, and "a paramagnetic concoction", which enables motorists to change the color of their ride at the press of a button.  Is this just an ideaor is it for real?? It looks like it is real and the secret behind this is a special polymer containing paramagnetic iron oxide particles, which is applied to the car's exterior. Then, by applying an electric current, the spacing of small crystals within the iron oxide particles can be adjusted, therefore affecting their ability to reflect light and change color. If the engine is turned off, the charge is lost and the car turns to an undefined default color.

The number of vehicles across the world is estimated to be rising from 900 m in 2010 to 1,500 m by 2050. This is a major concern for changing the fuel which currently is at a consumption level of 360 bn gallons of petrol, to 260 bn kg of hydrogen fuel that will be needed in 2050. Electricity production needs to be increased by 15% to 25% to produce the required amount of hydrogen. The bright side here for fueling cars with hydrogen is that it mixes with oxygen and produces water as the only tail pipe emission. Here are some more reasons why Hydrogen is the best contender to be the 'fuel of the future'.

Ten Reasons Why Hydrogen May be the Most Cost Effective Fuel of the Future Cars

1. Hydrogen is the most abundant element - It makes up Car Fuel of the Futureabout 3/4 of all matter in the universe and most of the remaining space is taken up by Helium. Since, Oxygen is ranked as the third most abundant element in the universe, which when combined with hydrogen results in water, a by product of hydrogen fuel cell powered cars.

2. Hydrogen is non-polluting - Hydrogen-based fuel produces no greenhouse gases which is another good thing for generators and engines. They are conversion devices generating usable energy from fuel. An electro-chemical reaction is used by fuel cells to extract energy directly as heat and electricity can be utilized at the point of generation.

3. Locally Produced - The cost-effectiveness in the local production of hydrogen will help in accelerating the commercial businesses.

4. Hydrogen Economy - Fuel cells have the ability to quickly double the efficiency of cars, significantly reducing air pollution. At the same time, everything from oil spills to ozone alerts to global warming which curses the fuel efficiency, also get their share of relief. This concept combined is known as Hydrogen Economy.

5. Very low noise and vibrations – Since, sound pollution has always been an issue, this concept eliminates that as well. The only sound will be of a compressor, blower or a pump. The vibration rate of fuel cell is also very low.

6. Safety in terms of color, odor and toxicity - Being completely colorless, odorless and nontoxic, this fuel is safe. The sun also uses hydrogen as its own energy source.

7. Renewable power source - Hydrogen can be filtered out of water using electric current. It is the standard method for generating hydrogen. There are multiple ways like stem reforming from hydrocarbons, electrolysis and thermolysis. The discovery and development of less expensive methods of production of bulk hydrogen is relevant to the establishment of a hydrogen economy.

8. Hydrogen has the highest energy content - The highest per unit weight of fuel is known as the energy content, and that is highest in hydrogen. Oxyhydrogen or Brown's Gas is formed when water is broken down into hydrogen which serves to be an efficient fuel. Its flame has the ability to cut tungsten steel easily.

10. High Efficiency - Since this technology of using hydrogen as fuel for automobiles, has been here for a while, it has proved to be a very effective fuel and non-polluting at the same time.

To see more prototypes of future cars visit:  FUTURE CARS